Beginning of Dravidian and Indo Aryan Style Temples with case examples of Indo Aryan Temples.

1. Beginning of Dravidian Temple style and Indo Aryan Temple
 Dravidian style of architecture is mainly found in
Temple architecture of south India namely in states of
Tamil Nadu, Karnataka,Kerala, andAndhra Pradesh.
 Classified under early Guptas and chaulakyas and
also by the kings of the Pallava dynasty, the Cholas,
the Pandyas, the Vijayanagara Kings and by the
Nayaks of Madura.
 Architectural Historian sub divide the period of
Dravidian Architectural growth into:
1.Pallava Period, 600-900AD
2.Chola Period, 700-1150 AD
3.Pandava Period, 1100-1350AD
4.Vijayanagara Period and 1350-1565AD
5.Nayakkar Period. 1565-1600 AD
 The temple shape may be rectangular,
square, star-shaped, or octagonal.
Examples like, Brihadhaeshwara Temple,
Shore temples, Mahabalipuram, kanchepuram
 Have a
separate
entry gate
called
Gopuram,
highly
decorated
and carved.
In elevation:
• Plinth
• Shikhara,
Vimana
• Mandapa

2.  Indo-Aryan style of Architecture are mainly
found in Temple Architecture of Northern
India namely in Orissa, Rajasthan and
Gujarat.
 Examples like Sun Temple in Konark.
Muktesvara Temple in Orrisa.
 It can be classified only under early Guptas
and chaulakyas.
 Indo-Aryan temples Comparatively have less
number of columns.
 Here God or Goddess are mostly made in
white marble.
 Usually had square planning
In elevation:
• Plinth
• Shikhara
• Mandapa

3. Pallavas Rathas at Mamalapuram
 Five Rathas namely: Draupadi Ratha, Arjuna Ratha,
Nakula Sahadeva Ratha, Bhima Ratha, Dharmaraja
Ratha.
 All five Rathas have
very diverse planning,
architecture and
ornamentation and
each Ratha has got
interior room - simple
and narrow sanctuary
(garbha-griha )
 Among the Rathas are
three large sculptures:
Lion, Elephant and Nandi
bull.
1) Draupadi Ratha
 The closest to the entrance gate is Draupadi Ratha - it is also
the smallest one. This shrine is devoted to goddess Durga.
 This shrine is shaped like a thatched hut, with a square
roof. and the nearby Arjuna Ratha are on a single platform
which is rised and adorned with figures of lions and
elephants.

4. 2) Arjuna Ratha
 On the same platform is located the next Ratha - Arjuna Ratha, which is devoted to
Shiva.
 This small structure is shaped like a small wooden shrine, once characteristic for
Southern India. It is facing towards the east and has two storeys, a small portico and
carved pillars.
 Inside the shrine there are no adornments, but the exterior is very rich with
interesting details.
 This shrine is devoted to Indra and is associated
with elephants. This ratha is the only one which
is not placed in a "procession", it stands aside. It
is also the only one with entrance facing south.
 The roof of this shrine is shaped like a back of
elephant. The columns and pillars are adorned
with seated lions.
3) Nakula Sahadeva Ratha
Draupadi ratha to the left, Arjuna ratha - to the
right

5. 4) Bhima Ratha
 The third shrine in a row is the longest of
all rathas - it is 12.8 m long, 7.3 m wide,
7.6 m high.
 The Bhima ratha is a single-tired structure
with a rectangular base.
 This ratha was devoted to Anantshayi
Vishnu. Pillars of the shrine are adorned
with figures of lions.
5) Dharmaraja ratha
 The shrine is devoted to Shiva. Columns
and pilasters of this ratha are adorned with
lions.
 The ground (first) floor of Dharmaraja
Ratha has pillared entrances on all sides.
 The second and the third tier has
Garbhagriha and parapet wall with space
in between them

6. Shore Temple
LOCATION: Is at Mahabalipuram, a village south of Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
 It is Called as Shore Temple because it is at edge of
the BAY OF BENGAL.
 The temple is a combination of three shrines
which are built on the same platform.
 The main shrine is dedicated to Shiva as it is
smaller than the second shrine. A small third
shrine, between the two, is dedicated to a Vishnu.
 The two Shiva shrines are orthogonal in shape.
The temple has a garbhagriha in which the deity,
Siva linga is enshrined, and a small mandapa
surrounded by a heavy outer wall
 The roofs of the temples have ornamentation
similar to the Pancha Rathas and the columns are
carved over lion mounted bases.
 Built with sculpted granite stones. Its pyramidal
structure is 18m high and sits on a 15m square
platform.

7. Kailasanathar Temple  The Kailasanathar temple is the oldest
structure in Kanchipuram, located
in Tamil Nadu, built from 685-705AD by
a Rajasimha ruler of the pallava dynasty
 It is a Hindu temple in the Dravidian
Architectural style, dedicated to the
Lord Shiva.
 The structure contains 58 small shrines
which are dedicated to various forms of
Shiva.
 The temple's foundations are made
of granite, which could withstand the
weight of the temple, while the carvings
are all made of sandstone.
 The shikara of the temple, above the
main shrine is square in plan which
rises up in a pyramidal shape. The
tower has many levels rising. The pillar
animal shapes (lions on the base which
features the Pallava style.
Inner court showing the passage with 58 sub-
shrines.

8.  Brihdeshwarar temple is a Hindu temple
dedicated to Shiva located in Thanjavur in the
Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
 Also known as Raja Rajeswara Temple.
It is one of the example of Tamil architecture during
Chola period.
 This temple is the first building fully built by
granite and finished within 5yrs.
 The complex can be entered either on one axis
through a five-story gopuram.
 The gopuram of the main entrance is 30 m high,
smaller than the vimana and the main temple is in
the center.
 Has a Nandi, a pillared hall and an assembly hall
mandapas, and many sub-shrines.
BRIHDESHWARAR TEMPLE
 The vimana is 66m high.
 There is a big statue of Nandi
(sacred bull), carved out of a
single rock, at the entrance
measuring about 16 feet long and
13 feet high.

9. Gangaikondacholapuram Temple
Location: Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
Built by: Rajendra Chola
Built in: 11th century
Dedicated to: Lord Shiva
Significance: Biggest Shivalingam in South India
 The temple stands next to the famous
Brihadisvara temple and is regarded as the
reproduction of Brihadisvara Temple that
was built by Rajaraja Chola, father of
Rajendra Chola.
 The temple was made to outshine the temple
made by the father.
 The temple boasts of a 9 storey vimanam
that extends to the height of 185 feet, facing
the east direction.
 Not less than 54.86m in height, the temple
structure follows the style of Brihadisvara
Temple

10. Fig 1) Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple
Gopuram and statues
Fig 2) Stone sculpture of
saraswathi at the temple
Fig 3) Nandhi
Plan of Gangaikonda Cholapuram